Echinacea plant named &#39;Balsomador&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Balsomado’, characterized by its medium red-orange colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Echinacea×hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Balsomador’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsomador’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during October 2008. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Echinacea cultivars with a single inflorescence form having imbricate ray florets and a well-branched, compact growth habit.

The new Echinacea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Echinacea hybrida breeding selection coded E30-2-2, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, characterized by its single-type, medium coral-orange colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulk pollen mix of seven proprietary Echinacea hybrida breeding selection coded E30-2-8, E30-2-10, E30-2-12, E30-2-13, E30-2-14, E30-2-15, E30-2-17, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, characterized by their medium coral-orange colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habits. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2010 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro propagation since June 2010 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsomador’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

1. Medium red-orange colored inflorescences;

2. Dark green-colored foliage; and

3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent and the possible male parents primarily in ray floret color and growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Sombrero Flamenco Orange ‘Balsomenco’, U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,949 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsomenco’ in at least the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter colored ray florets than plants of ‘Balsomenco’; and

2. Plants of the new cultivar have darker colored foliage than plants of ‘Balsomenco’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsomador’. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for 14 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsomador’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balsomador’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2014 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. in one-gallon containers for 14 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.5° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.7° C. to 15.5° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea×hybrida cultivar Balsomador. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Echinacea hybrida breeding             selection coded E30-2-2, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.         -   Male parent.—A bulk pollen mix of seven proprietary             Echinacea hybrida breeding selection coded E30-2-8,             E30-2-10, E30-2-12, E30-2-13, E30-2-14, E30-2-15, E30-2-17,             U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are             possible.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at             18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately             30 days at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 14 to 16 weeks from a             rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a one-gallon             container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact-upright,             herbaceous perennial.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in             mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures             up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 48.1 cm. Width: Approximately 39.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow             from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately             4.         -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:             Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately             34.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 6.4 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems:             144A to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire,             slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately             10.6 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 4.8 cm. Texture             of upper surface: Dull, moderately pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately             pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface             of young and mature foliage: Closest to N137A with venation             of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage:             Closest to 147B with venation of 147D.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 4.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glossy, sparsely covered             with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower             surfaces: 147D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsomador’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through             autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in             a greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 3 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.             Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:             Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:             Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 5. Height:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.3 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately             45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 14.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Color: 144A to 144B.         -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 20. Shape: Flattened             globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:             Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.5 cm. Color:             Outer ray florets of 154C with a bud center of 143A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 20.             Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect:             Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape: Elliptic             to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Emarginate to notched. Base: Attenuate. Length:             Approximately 4.5 cm. Width: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture             of upper surface: Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Texture             of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent, ribbed longitudinally.             Color of upper surface when first open: N25A with a light             overlay of 34A. Color of lower surface when first open: 10D             with streaks of 63B. Color of upper surface when fully open:             N25A with an overlay of 34A. Color of lower surface when             fully open: 155D with streaks of 60C.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity             per inflorescence: Approximately 300. Arrangement: Spirally             arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin             of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused             into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or             inner surface when first and fully open: 144A with 185A at             tips. Color of lower or outer surface when first and fully             open: 144A transitioning to 145D at base and 185A at tips.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 9.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Color: 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 50.             Arrangement: In a three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards             the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 to             3.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture             of lower or outer surface: Moderately pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower             surface: 137B.         -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:             Approximately 300. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately             1.4 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of             167B tipped with 187A, mid-section of 144A, and base of             145D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,             basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther             color: Closest to 203B. Filament length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Filament color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate to             abundant. Pollen color: 14A. Gynoecium: Present on disc             florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 187A. Style length:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color: 144D. Ovary length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomador’, substantially as herein shown and described. 